Most of what I write here, I am sure that the vast majority of the people in SEO will already know; in honesty I already hope that they do, if only for their own sake.

However, not everyone writes content for a living, so almost as a follow up to a previous post named ‘Why SEO Content Can be Beautiful‘, I am going to discuss ten simple tips that will (hopefully) aid anyone new to the position; or anyone who wishes to one day write content for a living.

Despite this however, I hope that this post shall be more finite and precise than the last. So here we go:

1. Research your area to the minute

Like I say, tragically obvious but you were warned.

Even if you have been writing in the area for years, research is key for the writing of any piece, and like many industries in the world (including ours), they can fluctuate from one day to the next.

One exceptionally useful tool for this is by searching through Google News. There you will find any news report in your subject area that has been published over the last few days (or minutes, if your topic is an exceptionally fast based one).

2. Refrain from the likes of Wikipedia

Although indeed a useful tool for general topics, such as Mickey Mouse for example, Wikipedia does indeed have an awful tendency to mix up or play with figures, numbers and years. Whereas you may find the Tiger Woods page stating that he won the Open Championship in 2006, you may find another year on a corresponding page.

Although there are articles on the internet stating that ‘Wikipedia is as accurate as Britannica‘, which in 2005 it very well may have been, you can also find more recent ones stating the exact converse (though not exactly stating the opposite, herein lies an interesting article). If you question the reliability of Wikipedia on Google however, you may just find yourself stumped with pages of Wikipedia itself. So with that I shall leave you to ascertain and value the risk of Wikipedia yourself.

3. Check out what else is online

Another great way of researching your area is by actually looking into articles which discuss the exact topic. Although this tactic may seem a little crude to some, it can actually help you generate fresh ideas, ground your knowledge and build upon where the current article fails.

“In much of society, research means to investigate something you do not know or understand.” - Neil Armstrong

That of course is perfectly true and I like to think that the rest of society is researching to improve it, just as we research to often improve ourselves.

4. Make it visually interesting

Quite possibly one of the most important pointers in this piece; making your content visually interesting is key. You could write the most imperative piece of work in history, but if it isn’t just a little visually satisfying it will fail.

Besides affording short, snappy paragraphs; images are great in keeping your audience glued to your screen. Not only does it break up the paragraph but it soothes they eye from the hideous collaboration of black and white.

Though not everyone can afford the likes of shutterstock, Google offers you the chance of searching for images which are available for commercial use. Other than that, Creative Commons is an excellent tool for the searching out of free pictures, videos and other media.

5. Find the controversy

As already stated in my earlier post, it is easy to find controversy in almost anything, and there is very little which appeals more to human attention than controversy; if it didn’t the majority of red-top newspapers and The Daily Mail would have fallen into bankruptcy years ago.

“Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disruption for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence” - Christopher Hitchens

The above quote comes from one of the possibly over-used names in contemporary literature, though I feel there is a distinct, worthy and purposeful reason for this; I hesitate to use the quote in this article though it in itself is of purpose to the point that I am trying to make. Also, the words reek of passion, a passion for controversy; try and find your own somehow.

6. Back that controversy up

There’s nothing worse than a bitter know it all. Clever and eloquent words can quite often provide a shield for bitterness masquerading as controversy. Back up your points with hard facts and make sure that you leave no kink open; any doubt from yourself will more than likely leave you and your content open to righteous attack.

Though perhaps however that this is the purpose, as we all know; there is more than one way to bait a fish (grenades often help).

Whatever you do, don’t be afraid to voice whatever it is that you are writing; it is more than likely that there are people out there who will agree with what you say but are too afraid themselves to publish it.

7. Ring People

As already stated in another post by Fergus Clawson in his earlier blog, ringing people and businesses is a great way to gather interest. If you are researching for a piece, whether it is a review, article or blog, you will find that people are quite often more than happy to talk about themselves; especially if it will gain them exposure.

Besides this it is almost certain that you will find more information from a first hand account than you will on the internet. For the sake of courtesy once you have conducted your interview, send the person the finished piece, cite them, give them a link, ring them once more; you never know when you are going to need them again (guest post?).

8. Network

Networking is more important to content than you may think. Not only does liaising with other people in your industry offer you the opportunity and luxury of referring to and with other people, but you never know when you are going to need that extra helping hand.

Plus, when the time comes to outreach your content, there will be people prepared not only to read it, but also to share it through the invisible veins of the internet.

9. Check your work

Before it does get to that stage however check your work, do it when you have finished, after an hour and the next day if time affords it. There’s nothing worse than a whopping spellign mistake or grammatical error right in the middle of a sentence. If worse comes to worse, it could just provide the breaking point to anyone reading it.

10. Read

Read, read, read; not only will doing this make your writing more interesting but you’ll be able to refer and reference a multitude of subjects. Nothing makes a piece of content more credible to a reader than the sourcing of a book in an online article.

If you’re not into books however, read blogs, check up on the news, go on reddit; you never know when the smallest and most irrelevant piece of information will pop into your head and become worthy; that if anything, that is the most satisfying thing out of all of it.

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